The 1980s Called…They Want Their Mix-Tapes Back

A mix-tape from the time of my childhood – the 1980’s? My favourite kind of mix-tape so what would I include?
Songs that were being played at the time when a mix-tape really was a mix-tape. The days when you would pause when the DJ came on the radio, scribble out and give the mix-tape a new title 10 or more times, put little pieces of paper in the holes of a protected tape so you could still record on it and use a pencil to wind the tape when it became loose.

Do you remember that? Do you remember…the 1980s?

I love reminiscing about this decade and give me a Friday night, a bottle of wine and access to YouTube and it’s an 80s fest at my house! Here are just some of the songs.

“I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany

Possibly the ultimate 80s song for me. I’m not sure exactly what it is about this shopping mall singing ginge but she brought this song out just at the time I was getting into music and I’ve loved it ever since.

Every time I hear the first few beats I just wanna grab a big, oversized sweater and go ice skating! I even remember thinking at the time that I should buy the tape before it went out of the charts as I’d never ever get to hear it again. How times change, now I can hear and see it as much as I want along with many other different version.

It’s also fun to see Tiffany popping up in the bizarre movies such as Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus. What the hell is that about?

“Respectable” by Mel & Kim

Perhaps not so internationally known but in the UK, during the 80s, Stock Aitken & Waterman were huge. They worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Rick Astley among many others.

Looking back, all their songs have pretty much the same beat but why change a winning formula? Mel & Kim had a few hits but sadly Mel died at the height of their career…

Put to one side the “quite bad” dancing this is a very catchy tune. Kim went on to have a few successful songs on her own and last I knew she was married to one of the guys from Bros.

“Heaven Is A Place On Earth” by Belinda Carlisle

No 80s mix-tape would be complete without Belinda. Although this is a very fun tune I do remember it made me worry a lot about dying….well, I was only 9 or 10. Now it just makes me grateful for being alive! What other song could start “oooo baby” and get away with it?

“Apollo 9” by Adam & The Ants

If I had been a little bit older during the 80s I might have had a different view on music from that decade – maybe less poppy. I find myself discovering older bands from the eighties now that I think I would have been into if I was older then. I love Adam & The Ants and the whole character thing thing they had going on. Plus, he did actually look quite hot!

“Love In The First Degree” by Bananarama

Enough of that and back to cheesy pop! This is such a school disco song. They had a lot of songs but this is my favourite by far. I didn’t know what the lyrics meant then and I still don’t know now – but who cares?

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